Geranium plant named ‘Tosfancriz’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Tosfancriz’, characterized by its semi-double type, red and hot pink bicolored flowers, dark green-colored foliage having zonation, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘Tosfancriz’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Tosfancriz’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inWeener-Halte, Germany during July 2006. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Geranium cultivars that flower uniformlyand have large flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and a moderatelyvigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Geranium cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is Presto Extreme Rose ‘Sil Hero’, notpatented, characterized by its semi-double type, dark rose and pinkbicolored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, andupright-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the newcultivar is Fantasia Dark Red ‘Sil Magnus’, not patented, characterizedby its double-type, dark red-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliagehaving zonation, and vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit. The newcultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant withinthe progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2007 in acontrolled environment in Weener-Halte, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceJune 2007 in Weener-Halte, Germany and Arroyo Grande, Calif. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Tosfancriz’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type, red and hot pink bicolored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage having zonation; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in leaf zonation and growth vigor. Plants of the new cultivardiffer from plants of the male parent primarily in flower type, flowercolor, and growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Geranium cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Savannah Merlot Sizzle‘Duesamesiz’, Not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plantsof the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Duesamesiz’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have petals with more red and less        hot pink coloration than plants of ‘Duesamesiz’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have heavier leaf zonation than        plants of ‘Duesamesiz’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Tosfancriz’. Theplants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Tosfancriz’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual umbel of‘Tosfancriz’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in July 2013 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures weremaintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) duringthe day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during thenight. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandleswere maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Tosfancriz.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Presto Extreme Rose ‘Sil Hero’, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Fantasia Dark Red ‘Sil Magnus’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 21.0 cm. Height from soil level to top of            foliage: Approximately 10.5 cm. Width: Approximately 19.5            cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching, pinching enhances            basal branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 1.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 7.5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Mixture of 25D and colorless, transparent. Color of young            and mature stems: 146B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem, blade            is perpendicular to stem. Shape: Reniform. Margin:            Bicrenate, palmately lobed, somewhat wavy. Apex: Obtuse.            Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate. Length of mature            leaf: Approximately 8.1 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 9.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of 25D and            colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface of young            foliage: 137A with zonation of N187A and venation of 146B.            Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest            to 147B with venation of 146C. Color of upper surface of            mature foliage: Darker than 137A with zonation of N187A and            venation of 146A.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 5.7 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Mixture of 25D and colorless, transparent. Color: 146A to            146B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Tosfancriz’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            12 to 14 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Umbel, semi-spherical. Positioned            above foliage. Quantity of fully open umbels per plant:            Approximately 1. Quantity of developing umbels per plant:            Approximately: 1. Fragrance: Slight. Length or height:            Approximately 6.0 cm. Width: Approximately 9.5 cm. Quantity            of fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 14.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 11.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of 25D and            colorless, transparent. Color: 146A to 146B with an            irregular overlay of 187A.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elliptic. Length:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Width: Approximately 7.0 mm. Sepal            texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of 25D and            colorless, transparent. Petal texture: Glabrous. Petal            color: Closest to 71B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 4.5 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Approximately 6 petals and 1 to 2            irregularly-shaped petaloids per flower. Shape: Obovate.            Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Attenuate. Length of upper petals: Approximately 2.7 cm.            Width of upper petals: Approximately 1.9 cm. Length of lower            petals: Approximately 2.4 cm. Width of lower petals:            Approximately 2.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface of upper petals when fully            open: 45A tinged with N74A, central lateral stripe of 53A,            and venation of 53A at base. Color of lower surface of upper            petals when fully open: Closest to 46B with venation of 53A.            Color of upper surface of lower petals when fully open: N74A            with an overlay of 45A and central spot of 53A. Color of            lower surface of lower petals when fully open: N74B tinged            with 46B.        -   Calyx.—Shape: 5-pointed star. Diameter: Approximately 2.3            cm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Approximately 5, fused at base.            Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acuminate. Length            of upper sepal: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width of upper sepal:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of lower sepals: Approximately            1.2 cm. Width of lower sepals: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture            of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:            Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of 25D and            colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 144A. Color            of lower surface: 144A with streaks of 187C near base.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to peduncle.            Length: Approximately 2.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.5 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of            glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of            25D and colorless, transparent. Color: 144A with a heavy            overlay of 187C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of mature stamens:            Approximately 8 per flower. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther            length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 64B. Filament            length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Filament color: NN155D with an            overlay of 64D nearest anther. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: 32A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower.            Pistil length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Stigma shape: 5            branched. Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color:            53A. Style length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Style color: 53B.            Ovary length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely            pubescent. Ovary color: 145A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Geranium has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plantnamed ‘Tosfancriz’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.